The European Central Bank balancing growth against inflation held its key interest rate steady at 3.5% Thursday but is expected to keep a close eye on prices and economic momentum ahead of a possible increase in March.
United States on Thursday called on Brazil to exercise influence over its peers in the G-20 group of developing nations and try to achieve a breakthrough in the stalled Doha global trade talks.
Bolivian President Evo Morales renewed his pledge to nationalize his country's mining industry, saying he would complete the task this year.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced this week that Chile has been elevated from its Watch List to its Priority Watch List for alleged failure to comply with U.S. standards for intellectual property rights protection. The USTR cited the software and pharmaceutical industries in Chile as presenting the greatest threats to American business interests.
Oil plunged Thursday to its lowest level price since May 2005, below 52 US dollars a barrel, following the continued steep rise in heating oil stocks in United States and a resumption of crude pumping top Europe by Russia.
Investors scared by President Hugo Chavez's nationalization plans rushed to sell off Venezuelan stocks Tuesday, while U.S. officials and financial analysts warned that increasing government control in the power, telecom and oil sectors is a mistake.
Chile decided on Tuesday to increase to 33%, and during three months, safeguard tariffs on Argentina wheat flour, reported in Santiago the Minister of Agriculture Alvaro Rojas.
China's trade surplus in 2006 reached a mind bogging 177.5 billion US dollars compared to 102 billion in 2005, reported Wednesday the Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Agrosuper, Chile's largest meat producer could face serious fines or a shutdown of its factories by health authorities after workers of its Huechuraba plant denounced the sale of decomposing meat.
Brazil manufactured a record number of automobiles last year, 2.61 million, up 3.1% over 2005, according to a release Wednesday in Sao Paulo from the Association of Automobile manufacturers, Anfavea.